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Tickerhoof M, Cham H, Ger A, Burrja S, Auluck P, Schmidt PJ, Marenco S, Kundakovic M. Postmortem tissue biomarkers of menopausal transition. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.20.599941. [PMID: 38979150 PMCID: PMC11230159 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.20.599941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
The menopausal transition (MT) is associated with an increased risk for many disorders including neurological and mental disorders. Brain imaging studies in living humans show changes in brain metabolism and structure that may contribute to the MT-associated brain disease risk. Although deficits in ovarian hormones have been implicated, cellular and molecular studies of the brain undergoing MT are currently lacking, mostly due to a difficulty in studying MT in postmortem human brain. To enable this research, we explored 39 candidate biomarkers for menopausal status in 42 pre-, peri-, and post-menopausal subjects across three postmortem tissues: blood, the hypothalamus, and pituitary gland. We identified thirteen significant and seven strongest menopausal biomarkers across the three tissues. Using these biomarkers, we generated multi-tissue and tissue-specific composite measures that allow the postmortem identification of the menopausal status across different age ranges, including the "perimenopausal", 45-55-year-old group. Our findings enable the study of cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying increased neuropsychiatric risk during the MT, opening the path for hormone status-informed, precision medicine approach in women's mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Tickerhoof
- Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Heining Cham
- Department of Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Anaya Ger
- Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Sonola Burrja
- Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Pavan Auluck
- Human Brain Collection Core, National Institute of Mental Health-Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Peter J. Schmidt
- Behavioral Endocrinology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health-Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Stefano Marenco
- Human Brain Collection Core, National Institute of Mental Health-Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Marija Kundakovic
- Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, USA
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Zhang L, Verwer RWH, van Heerikhuize J, Lucassen PJ, Nathanielsz PW, Hol EM, Aronica E, Dhillo WS, Meynen G, Swaab DF. Progesterone receptor distribution in the human hypothalamus and its association with suicide. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2024; 12:16. [PMID: 38263257 PMCID: PMC10807127 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-024-01733-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The human hypothalamus modulates mental health by balancing interactions between hormonal fluctuations and stress responses. Stress-induced progesterone release activates progesterone receptors (PR) in the human brain and triggers alterations in neuropeptides/neurotransmitters. As recent epidemiological studies have associated peripheral progesterone levels with suicide risks in humans, we mapped PR distribution in the human hypothalamus in relation to age and sex and characterized its (co-) expression in specific cell types. The infundibular nucleus (INF) appeared to be the primary hypothalamic structure via which progesterone modulates stress-related neural circuitry. An elevation of the number of pro-opiomelanocortin+ (POMC, an endogenous opioid precursor) neurons in the INF, which was due to a high proportion of POMC+ neurons that co-expressed PR, was related to suicide in patients with mood disorders (MD). MD donors who died of legal euthanasia were for the first time enrolled in a postmortem study to investigate the molecular signatures related to fatal suicidal ideations. They had a higher proportion of PR co-expressing POMC+ neurons than MD patients who died naturally. This indicates that the onset of endogenous opioid activation in MD with suicide tendency may be progesterone-associated. Our findings may have implications for users of progesterone-enriched contraceptives who also have MD and suicidal tendencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zhang
- Neuropsychiatric Disorders Lab, Neuroimmunology Group, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ronald W H Verwer
- Neuropsychiatric Disorders Lab, Neuroimmunology Group, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Joop van Heerikhuize
- Neuropsychiatric Disorders Lab, Neuroimmunology Group, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Paul J Lucassen
- Brain Plasticity Group, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Peter W Nathanielsz
- Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, Laramie, USA
| | - Elly M Hol
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Centre, University Medical Centre Utrecht, University Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Eleonora Aronica
- Department of (Neuro) Pathology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Waljit S Dhillo
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Gerben Meynen
- Faculty of Humanities, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Willem Pompe Institute for Criminal Law and Criminology and Utrecht Centre for Accountability and Liability Law (UCALL), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Dick F Swaab
- Neuropsychiatric Disorders Lab, Neuroimmunology Group, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Dept. Neuropsychiatric Disorders, University of Amsterdam, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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Piet R. Circadian and kisspeptin regulation of the preovulatory surge. Peptides 2023; 163:170981. [PMID: 36842628 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2023.170981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2023]
Abstract
Fertility in mammals is ultimately controlled by a small population of neurons - the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons - located in the ventral forebrain. GnRH neurons control gonadal function through the release of GnRH, which in turn stimulates the secretion of the anterior pituitary gonadotropins luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). In spontaneous ovulators, ovarian follicle maturation eventually stimulates, via sex steroid feedback, the mid-cycle surge in GnRH and LH secretion that causes ovulation. The GnRH/LH surge is initiated in many species just before the onset of activity through processes controlled by the central circadian clock, ensuring that the neuroendocrine control of ovulation and sex behavior are coordinated. This review aims to give an overview of anatomical and functional studies that collectively reveal some of the mechanisms through which the central circadian clock regulates GnRH neurons and their afferent circuits to drive the preovulatory surge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Piet
- Brain Health Research Institute and Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States.
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Kisspeptin-10 Rescues Cholinergic Differentiated SHSY-5Y Cells from α-Synuclein-Induced Toxicity In Vitro. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23095193. [PMID: 35563582 PMCID: PMC9105316 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23095193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuropathological substrate of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is defined by the inextricable cross-seeding accretion of amyloid-β (Aβ) and α-synuclein (α-syn)-laden deposits in cholinergic neurons. The recent revelation that neuropeptide kisspeptin-10 (KP-10) is able to mitigate Aβ toxicity via an extracellular binding mechanism may provide a new horizon for innovative drug design endeavors. Considering the sequence similarities between α-syn’s non-amyloid-β component (NAC) and Aβ’s C-terminus, we hypothesized that KP-10 would enhance cholinergic neuronal resistance against α-syn’s deleterious consequences through preferential binding. Here, human cholinergic SH-SY5Y cells were transiently transformed to upsurge the mRNA expression of α-syn while α-syn-mediated cholinergic toxicity was quantified utilizing a standardized viability-based assay. Remarkably, the E46K mutant α-syn displayed elevated α-syn mRNA levels, which subsequently induced more cellular toxicity compared with the wild-type α-syn in choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)-positive cholinergic neurons. Treatment with a high concentration of KP-10 (10 µM) further decreased cholinergic cell viability, while low concentrations of KP-10 (0.01–1 µM) substantially suppressed wild-type and E46K mutant α-syn-mediated toxicity. Correlating with the in vitro observations are approximations from in silico algorithms, which inferred that KP-10 binds favorably to the C-terminal residues of wild-type and E46K mutant α-syn with CDOCKER energy scores of −118.049 kcal/mol and −114.869 kcal/mol, respectively. Over the course of 50 ns simulation time, explicit-solvent molecular dynamics conjointly revealed that the docked complexes were relatively stable despite small-scale fluctuations upon assembly. Taken together, our findings insinuate that KP-10 may serve as a novel therapeutic scaffold with far-reaching implications for the conceptualization of α-syn-based treatments.
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Jamieson BB, Moore AM, Lohr DB, Thomas SX, Coolen LM, Lehman MN, Campbell RE, Piet R. Prenatal androgen treatment impairs the suprachiasmatic nucleus arginine-vasopressin to kisspeptin neuron circuit in female mice. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:951344. [PMID: 35992143 PMCID: PMC9388912 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.951344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with elevated androgen and luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion and with oligo/anovulation. Evidence indicates that elevated androgens impair sex steroid hormone feedback regulation of pulsatile LH secretion. Hyperandrogenemia in PCOS may also disrupt the preovulatory LH surge. The mechanisms through which this might occur, however, are not fully understood. Kisspeptin (KISS1) neurons of the rostral periventricular area of the third ventricle (RP3V) convey hormonal cues to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons. In rodents, the preovulatory surge is triggered by these hormonal cues and coincident timing signals from the central circadian clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Timing signals are relayed to GnRH neurons, in part, via projections from SCN arginine-vasopressin (AVP) neurons to RP3VKISS1 neurons. Because rodent SCN cells express androgen receptors (AR), we hypothesized that these circuits are impaired by elevated androgens in a mouse model of PCOS. In prenatally androgen-treated (PNA) female mice, SCN Ar expression was significantly increased compared to that found in prenatally vehicle-treated mice. A similar trend was seen in the number of Avp-positive SCN cells expressing Ar. In the RP3V, the number of kisspeptin neurons was preserved. Anterograde tract-tracing, however, revealed reduced SCNAVP neuron projections to the RP3V and a significantly lower proportion of RP3VKISS1 neurons with close appositions from SCNAVP fibers. Functional assessments showed, on the other hand, that RP3VKISS1 neuron responses to AVP were maintained in PNA mice. These findings indicate that PNA changes some of the neural circuits that regulate the preovulatory surge. These impairments might contribute to ovulatory dysfunction in PNA mice modeling PCOS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley B. Jamieson
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology and Department of Physiology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Aleisha M. Moore
- Brain Health Research Institute and Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States
| | - Dayanara B. Lohr
- Brain Health Research Institute and Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States
| | - Simone X. Thomas
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology and Department of Physiology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Lique M. Coolen
- Brain Health Research Institute and Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States
| | - Michael N. Lehman
- Brain Health Research Institute and Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States
| | - Rebecca E. Campbell
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology and Department of Physiology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Richard Piet
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology and Department of Physiology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Brain Health Research Institute and Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States
- *Correspondence: Richard Piet,
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Mills EG, Yang L, Abbara A, Dhillo WS, Comninos AN. Current Perspectives on Kisspeptins Role in Behaviour. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:928143. [PMID: 35757400 PMCID: PMC9225141 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.928143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuropeptide kisspeptin is now well-established as the master regulator of the mammalian reproductive axis. Beyond the hypothalamus, kisspeptin and its cognate receptor are also extensively distributed in extra-hypothalamic brain regions. An expanding pool of animal and human data demonstrates that kisspeptin sits within an extensive neuroanatomical and functional framework through which it can integrate a range of internal and external cues with appropriate neuroendocrine and behavioural responses. In keeping with this, recent studies reveal wide-reaching effects of kisspeptin on key behaviours such as olfactory-mediated partner preference, sexual motivation, copulatory behaviour, bonding, mood, and emotions. In this review, we provide a comprehensive update on the current animal and human literature highlighting the far-reaching behaviour and mood-altering roles of kisspeptin. A comprehensive understanding of this important area in kisspeptin biology is key to the escalating development of kisspeptin-based therapies for common reproductive and related psychological and psychosexual disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edouard G. Mills
- Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lisa Yang
- Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ali Abbara
- Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Waljit S. Dhillo
- Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Endocrinology, Imperial College Healthcare National Health Service (NHS) Trust, London, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Waljit S. Dhillo, ; Alexander N. Comninos,
| | - Alexander N. Comninos
- Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Endocrinology, Imperial College Healthcare National Health Service (NHS) Trust, London, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Waljit S. Dhillo, ; Alexander N. Comninos,
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Rumpler É, Takács S, Göcz B, Baska F, Szenci O, Horváth A, Ciofi P, Hrabovszky E, Skrapits K. Kisspeptin Neurons in the Infundibular Nucleus of Ovariectomized Cats and Dogs Exhibit Unique Anatomical and Neurochemical Characteristics. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:598707. [PMID: 33343288 PMCID: PMC7738562 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.598707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurons co-synthesizing kisspeptin (KP), neurokinin B (NKB), and dynorphin (“KNDy neurons”) in the hypothalamic arcuate/infundibular nucleus (INF) form a crucial component of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)/luteinizing hormone (LH) “pulse generator.” The goal of our study was to characterize KP neuron distribution, neuropeptide phenotype and connectivity to GnRH cells in ovariectomized (OVX) dogs and cats with immunohistochemistry on formalin-fixed hypothalamic tissue sections. In both species, KP and NKB neurons occurred in the INF and the two cell populations overlapped substantially. Dynorphin was detected in large subsets of canine KP (56%) and NKB (37%) cells and feline KP (64%) and NKB (57%) cells; triple-labeled (“KNDy”) somata formed ∼25% of all immunolabeled neurons. Substance P (SP) was present in 20% of KP and 29% of NKB neurons in OVX cats but not dogs, although 26% of KP and 24% of NKB neurons in a gonadally intact male dog also contained SP signal. Only in cats, cocaine- and amphetamine regulated transcript was also colocalized with KP (23%) and NKB (7%). In contrast with reports from mice, KP neurons did not express galanin in either carnivore. KP neurons innervated virtually all GnRH neurons in both species. Results of this anatomical study on OVX animals reveal species-specific features of canine and feline mediobasal hypothalamic KP neurons. Anatomical and neurochemical similarities to and differences from the homologous KP cells of more extensively studied rodent, domestic and primate species will enhance our understanding of obligate and facultative players in the molecular mechanisms underlying pulsatile GnRH/LH secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Éva Rumpler
- Laboratory of Reproductive Neurobiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Szabolcs Takács
- Laboratory of Reproductive Neurobiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Balázs Göcz
- Laboratory of Reproductive Neurobiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ferenc Baska
- Department of Exotic Animal and Wildlife Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ottó Szenci
- Department of Obstetrics and Food Animal Medicine Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine, Üllõ, Hungary.,MTA-SZIE Large Animal Clinical Research Group, University of Veterinary Medicine, Üllõ, Hungary
| | - András Horváth
- Department of Obstetrics and Food Animal Medicine Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine, Üllõ, Hungary
| | - Philippe Ciofi
- INSERM U1215, Neurocentre Magendie, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Erik Hrabovszky
- Laboratory of Reproductive Neurobiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Katalin Skrapits
- Laboratory of Reproductive Neurobiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
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